Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Athens, AL

Athens, AL is in USDA zone 8a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 20 and the first fall frost November 12.

Athens on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMar 20
First frostNov 12
Growing season238 days

8a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Athens, AL…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Athens, AL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Athens, AL, elevation 689 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Athens

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 12) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 35612 came on Feb 18 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Alabama

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Alabama, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 125

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 171

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 148

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Athens, AL.

Soil in Athens, AL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 35612 is Dickson — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dickson silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 35612; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Athens, AL

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights63nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,436base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation58.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 34 °F 51°34° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.77 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 FebMarch: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 MarApril: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 6.42 in precipitation 6.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Athens, AL (4 mi away); precipitation: Athens 1.5 Se, AL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Athens

356118a
10 to 15 °F
356128a
10 to 15 °F
356138a
10 to 15 °F
356148a
10 to 15 °F

Alabama planting zones →

Questions about Athens

What planting zone is Athens, AL?

Athens, AL is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Athens, AL?

The median last spring frost is March 20 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Athens station).

When can I plant a garden in Athens, AL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 6 – Feb 27; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Athens, AL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Athens, AL get?

About 58.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).